Unpopular Opinions You Hold

[Dunge]

I can think of three different types of events here. I don’t think it’s about money or even whiteness that much.

 

- There are events that don’t impact us at all but are interesting. This is one, the Thai boys in the cave, the trapped Chilean miners from years ago. What could we do about those events? Absolutely nothing but watch on with interest. No emotional involvement.

- There are events that have emotional involvement that we can’t ignore. The war in Ukraine. We have to accept pouring money into it because the lunatic in charge of Russia could well have an eye of marching his troops westward if he wins, causing a direct conflict. Gets reported a lot. Unavoidable.

- There are events with emotional baggage that we can ignore. The war in Yemen. The migrant boat that’s sunk in the Mediterranean. Some people take notice, criticise everyone else for not being caring enough. What can we do about it? Pressure government, political action, change political positions. Or maybe just walk away from the awkward silence.

 

The reason the migrant boat sinking isn’t as high on the news as the missing submarine is that’s bad news that demands something of us that we can distance ourselves from instead. I don’t blame humans for that. We have a capacity and modern life and society expects us to shoulder enough without that guilt on top. But it’s fair to ask us to be aware of it.

[nnfox]

My guess is that the media want views/clicks/public engagement/sales.  To achieve that they, in a very calculated way, prey on the very human trait of being morbidly obsessed with death, carnage, scandal and controversy.  For them, the more unusual the circumstances, the better, or if it involves famous, high profile personalities, that's even better.

 

And so to coverage of the two stories...

 

1. Migrants drown.  This is sadly a common occurrence.  The fact the boat disaster was reported at all was because the high volume of people involved.  That's what gave it the unusual angle.  If every migrant drowning was reported, people would be even more desensitised to the issue.

 

2. The sub.  This has a combination of a high potential of death, on a technological advanced craft, involving rich, influential people doing something highly unusual.  Also, there are British people involved so news outlets know that the story is more relatable.

 

Clicks and views.  That's what matters.  Nothing else.

[FoxesDeb]

13 minutes ago, nnfox said:

My guess is that the media want views/clicks/public engagement/sales.  To achieve that they, in a very calculated way, prey on the very human trait of being morbidly obsessed with death, carnage, scandal and controversy.  For them, the more unusual the circumstances, the better, or if it involves famous, high profile personalities, that's even better.

 

And so to coverage of the two stories...

 

1. Migrants drown.  This is sadly a common occurrence.  The fact the boat disaster was reported at all was because the high volume of people involved.  That's what gave it the unusual angle.  If every migrant drowning was reported, people would be even more desensitised to the issue.

 

2. The sub.  This has a combination of a high potential of death, on a technological advanced craft, involving rich, influential people doing something highly unusual.  Also, there are British people involved so news outlets know that the story is more relatable.

 

Clicks and views.  That's what matters.  Nothing else.

What a sad fcvking time we live in.

[Daggers]

8 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

What a sad fcvking time we live in.

It’s why I’ll go weeks at a time avoiding all news, logging out of twitter and the like. The continual ramping up of division and hate messages really gets on my tits. 

You’ll appreciate it living abroad, you get a different perspective on foreigners. They’re ok people. It knocks any British exceptionalism out of you. 
 

Rather than broaden the mind - I swear the channels used to have a mandate to educate - they spend all the news attempting to narrow it (except for C4).

Im waiting for the end of the Age of Populism. 

[grobyfox1990]

1 hour ago, nnfox said:

My guess is that the media want views/clicks/public engagement/sales.  To achieve that they, in a very calculated way, prey on the very human trait of being morbidly obsessed with death, carnage, scandal and controversy.  For them, the more unusual the circumstances, the better, or if it involves famous, high profile personalities, that's even better.

 

And so to coverage of the two stories...

 

1. Migrants drown.  This is sadly a common occurrence.  The fact the boat disaster was reported at all was because the high volume of people involved.  That's what gave it the unusual angle.  If every migrant drowning was reported, people would be even more desensitised to the issue.

 

2. The sub.  This has a combination of a high potential of death, on a technological advanced craft, involving rich, influential people doing something highly unusual.  Also, there are British people involved so news outlets know that the story is more relatable.

 

Clicks and views.  That's what matters.  Nothing else.

Yep, clicks and views = $$$$$$$$

[Nalis]

Not an unpopular opinion but on the subject of wealth. I know a few boomers who retired in their 50s and are living it up in retirement on their decent mortgage. Probably the first  generation to that and absolute fair play to them. 

 

They'll probably be the last as one boring argument I often see about the current retirement age which shortens healthy retirement is 'well we're living longer than ever so you should be working until your late 60s and 70s. People worked until they were close to death 50 years ago' as if we should just accept it instead of expecting increases in standards of living and retirement as society evolves.

Edited 20 June 2023 by Nalis

[Sampson]

17 minutes ago, Nalis said:

Not an unpopular opinion but on the subject of wealth. I know a few boomers who retired in their 50s and are living it up in retirement on their decent mortgage. Probably the first  generation to that and absolute fair play to them. 

 

They'll probably be the last as one boring argument I often see about the current retirement age which shortens healthy retirement is 'well we're living longer than ever so you should be working until your late 60s and 70s. People worked until they were close to death 50 years ago' as if we should just accept it instead of expecting increases in standards of living and retirement as society evolves.

It’s not a boring answer though. retirement and pensions are the biggest burden on the state already by a long way because the state is designed for much shorter retirement years.

 

It’s a complex debate but it’s politically impossible to say really which is why governments blame migrants and the NHS as the biggest burden on the state when in reality it’s pensions and pensioners. But it’s political suicide to admit it, especially for the Tories as their core demographic is older voters 

 

Not saying you’re right or wrong but population ageing is probably the 2nd biggest issue of our time after climate change in the west and most governments don’t want to tackle it.

 

In 1970 there were 4 working age people to every retired person in the uk. By 2050 it will be 1.8 working people for every pension aged person. In Portugal it’s going to be a 1:1 ratio and uk and every other western country will go towards that too.

 

Really there are 3 solutions- 1.  greatly increase the tax burden amongst higher earners to redistribute to pensioners, 2. Open up immigration from non-western countries and import a large number of working age, tax-paying migrants from abroad to increase the ratio of tax payers to pensioners 3. higher the age a person receives the state pension. But even then less and less jobs availabile as you get older, more and more can’t work due to ailments and would just get pushed from pension to jsa or disability benefits anyway so it’s just moving people from one public income to another 
 

Not saying which option is best but most governments in the west including the uk want to do none of them and are burying their heads in the sand on the issue  

Edited 20 June 2023 by Sampson

[Daggers]

24 minutes ago, Sampson said:

It’s not a boring answer though. retirement and pensions are the biggest burden on the state already by a long way because the state is designed for much shorter retirement years.

 

It’s a complex debate but it’s politically impossible to say really which is why governments blame migrants and the NHS as the biggest burden on the state when in reality it’s pensions and pensioners. But it’s political suicide to admit it, especially for the Tories as their core demographic is older voters 

 

Not saying you’re right or wrong but population ageing is probably the 2nd biggest issue of our time after climate change in the west and most governments don’t want to tackle it.

 

In 1970 there were 4 working age people to every retired person in the uk. By 2050 it will be 1.8 working people for every pension aged person. In Portugal it’s going to be a 1:1 ratio and uk and every other western country will go towards that too.

 

Really there are 3 solutions- 1.  greatly increase the tax burden amongst higher earners to redistribute to pensioners, 2. Open up immigration from non-western countries and import a large number of working age, tax-paying migrants from abroad to increase the ratio of tax payers to pensioners 3. higher the age a person receives the state pension. But even then less and less jobs availabile as you get older, more and more can’t work due to ailments and would just get pushed from pension to jsa or disability benefits anyway so it’s just moving people from one public income to another 
 

Not saying which option is best but most governments in the west including the uk want to do none of them and are burying their heads in the sand on the issue  

Solution 4

 

 

[grobyfox1990]

48 minutes ago, Sampson said:

It’s not a boring answer though. retirement and pensions are the biggest burden on the state already by a long way because the state is designed for much shorter retirement years.

 

It’s a complex debate but it’s politically impossible to say really which is why governments blame migrants and the NHS as the biggest burden on the state when in reality it’s pensions and pensioners. But it’s political suicide to admit it, especially for the Tories as their core demographic is older voters 

 

Not saying you’re right or wrong but population ageing is probably the 2nd biggest issue of our time after climate change in the west and most governments don’t want to tackle it.

 

In 1970 there were 4 working age people to every retired person in the uk. By 2050 it will be 1.8 working people for every pension aged person. In Portugal it’s going to be a 1:1 ratio and uk and every other western country will go towards that too.

 

Really there are 3 solutions- 1.  greatly increase the tax burden amongst higher earners to redistribute to pensioners, 2. Open up immigration from non-western countries and import a large number of working age, tax-paying migrants from abroad to increase the ratio of tax payers to pensioners 3. higher the age a person receives the state pension. But even then less and less jobs availabile as you get older, more and more can’t work due to ailments and would just get pushed from pension to jsa or disability benefits anyway so it’s just moving people from one public income to another 
 

Not saying which option is best but most governments in the west including the uk want to do none of them and are burying their heads in the sand on the issue  

Agreed, defo not a boring answer. I’m not working to fund hordes of Norfolk type weirdos having a 40 year retirement. 

[Silebyfox_89]

Maya Jama is over rated. 

[Wymsey]

TikTok is awful.

[CountesthorpeFox1]

I’m going to drag this topics intellect down a few notches from very sensible debates about pensions etc to my unpopular opinion….

 

Bacon and sausage do not go. They are both fantastic in there own right but should always be a bacon con or a sausage cob, you add them together because society expects you to, not because you should. Same with pigs in blankets, they’re sh*t. Every Christmas I’m always giving it ‘yeah can I have some more’ but it’s the pressure that I should love them.

 

im not so sure why in my real life I hide behind this facade of pretending to like them haha. I’m very much somebody who won’t feel pressured into doing something/ likening something because it’s popular but with this I’ve been living a lie (and for some weird reason will probably continue to do so) 

 

P.S they work on a fry up because you’re not consuming them I’m the same mouthful 

[filbertway]

57 minutes ago, Silebyfox_89 said:

Maya Jama is over rated. 

[Nalis]

2 hours ago, Sampson said:

It’s not a boring answer though. retirement and pensions are the biggest burden on the state already by a long way because the state is designed for much shorter retirement years.

 

It’s a complex debate but it’s politically impossible to say really which is why governments blame migrants and the NHS as the biggest burden on the state when in reality it’s pensions and pensioners. But it’s political suicide to admit it, especially for the Tories as their core demographic is older voters 

 

Not saying you’re right or wrong but population ageing is probably the 2nd biggest issue of our time after climate change in the west and most governments don’t want to tackle it.

 

In 1970 there were 4 working age people to every retired person in the uk. By 2050 it will be 1.8 working people for every pension aged person. In Portugal it’s going to be a 1:1 ratio and uk and every other western country will go towards that too.

 

Really there are 3 solutions- 1.  greatly increase the tax burden amongst higher earners to redistribute to pensioners, 2. Open up immigration from non-western countries and import a large number of working age, tax-paying migrants from abroad to increase the ratio of tax payers to pensioners 3. higher the age a person receives the state pension. But even then less and less jobs availabile as you get older, more and more can’t work due to ailments and would just get pushed from pension to jsa or disability benefits anyway so it’s just moving people from one public income to another 
 

Not saying which option is best but most governments in the west including the uk want to do none of them and are burying their heads in the sand on the issue  

Thanks for the response and fair points. Options 1 is the ideal solution, Option 2 is the most viable  ut neither will happen.

[Nalis]

11 minutes ago, CountesthorpeFox1 said:

I’m going to drag this topics intellect down a few notches from very sensible debates about pensions etc to my unpopular opinion….

 

Bacon and sausage do not go. They are both fantastic in there own right but should always be a bacon con or a sausage cob, you add them together because society expects you to, not because you should. Same with pigs in blankets, they’re sh*t. Every Christmas I’m always giving it ‘yeah can I have some more’ but it’s the pressure that I should love them.

 

im not so sure why in my real life I hide behind this facade of pretending to like them haha. I’m very much somebody who won’t feel pressured into doing something/ likening something because it’s popular but with this I’ve been living a lie (and for some weird reason will probably continue to do so) 

 

P.S they work on a fry up because you’re not consuming them I’m the same mouthful 

Great, I'm craving some pigs in blanket now...

[CountesthorpeFox1]

2 minutes ago, Nalis said:

Great, I'm craving some pigs in blanket now...

Think this should be in the popular opinions thread mate…. 

[Daggers]

1 hour ago, Silebyfox_89 said:

Maya Jama is over rated. 

No one knows what this opinion is. 
 

1 hour ago, Wymsey said:

TikTok is awful.

No one disagrees with this opinion 

 

1 hour ago, CountesthorpeFox1 said:

Bacon and sausage do not go.

No one knows why you aren’t current twisting on a spit in hell. 

[CountesthorpeFox1]

4 minutes ago, Daggers said:

 

No one knows why you aren’t current twisting on a spit in hell. 

This is the social rejection I fear so much. Coming out would be social and career suicide. 
 

As previously stated, I will remain in the closet until the grim reaper comes calling with his spit. 

[FoyleFox]

I get the bacon and sausage not in one cob opinion but can't disagree enough about the pigs in blankets. 

[leicsmac]

8 hours ago, Sampson said:

It’s not a boring answer though. retirement and pensions are the biggest burden on the state already by a long way because the state is designed for much shorter retirement years.

 

It’s a complex debate but it’s politically impossible to say really which is why governments blame migrants and the NHS as the biggest burden on the state when in reality it’s pensions and pensioners. But it’s political suicide to admit it, especially for the Tories as their core demographic is older voters 

 

Not saying you’re right or wrong but population ageing is probably the 2nd biggest issue of our time after climate change in the west and most governments don’t want to tackle it.

 

In 1970 there were 4 working age people to every retired person in the uk. By 2050 it will be 1.8 working people for every pension aged person. In Portugal it’s going to be a 1:1 ratio and uk and every other western country will go towards that too.

 

Really there are 3 solutions- 1.  greatly increase the tax burden amongst higher earners to redistribute to pensioners, 2. Open up immigration from non-western countries and import a large number of working age, tax-paying migrants from abroad to increase the ratio of tax payers to pensioners 3. higher the age a person receives the state pension. But even then less and less jobs availabile as you get older, more and more can’t work due to ailments and would just get pushed from pension to jsa or disability benefits anyway so it’s just moving people from one public income to another 
 

Not saying which option is best but most governments in the west including the uk want to do none of them and are burying their heads in the sand on the issue  

It's going to be a clusterfvck whichever way things go.

 

However, I would say that these options are in fact the least worst way that population would stabilise, which it really needs to do.

[The Bear]

Agree about bacon and sausage together. There was a lad at work who always used to have sausage, bacon and brown sauce on his breakfast cob. It used to enrage me for some reason. They don't go together on their own! You have one or the other with something else like tomatoes or egg. 

[Samilktray]

11 hours ago, Silebyfox_89 said:

Maya Jama is over rated. 

Finally a bad opinion 

[Foxdiamond]

14 hours ago, Sampson said:

It’s not a boring answer though. retirement and pensions are the biggest burden on the state already by a long way because the state is designed for much shorter retirement years.

 

It’s a complex debate but it’s politically impossible to say really which is why governments blame migrants and the NHS as the biggest burden on the state when in reality it’s pensions and pensioners. But it’s political suicide to admit it, especially for the Tories as their core demographic is older voters 

 

Not saying you’re right or wrong but population ageing is probably the 2nd biggest issue of our time after climate change in the west and most governments don’t want to tackle it.

 

In 1970 there were 4 working age people to every retired person in the uk. By 2050 it will be 1.8 working people for every pension aged person. In Portugal it’s going to be a 1:1 ratio and uk and every other western country will go towards that too.

 

Really there are 3 solutions- 1.  greatly increase the tax burden amongst higher earners to redistribute to pensioners, 2. Open up immigration from non-western countries and import a large number of working age, tax-paying migrants from abroad to increase the ratio of tax payers to pensioners 3. higher the age a person receives the state pension. But even then less and less jobs availabile as you get older, more and more can’t work due to ailments and would just get pushed from pension to jsa or disability benefits anyway so it’s just moving people from one public income to another 
 

Not saying which option is best but most governments in the west including the uk want to do none of them and are burying their heads in the sand on the issue  

Another factor is that a lot more people are in full time education that previous generations. Many of the boomers started full time work at 15 or 16 so 50 years of work before retirement age of 66. 

[Sampson]

19 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Another factor is that a lot more people are in full time education that previous generations. Many of the boomers started full time work at 15 or 16 so 50 years of work before retirement age of 66. 

Disagree. May be wrong but I’m sure I’ve seen before that research shows that on average graduates pay more back in tax compared to non-graduates than they take from their loan and graduates and higher education on average are a net gain to the state and pay more in tax over their lifetimes.

 

I would say trying to open up education and allowing people to go back to higher education when they are much older would be a better solution to the problem.
 

I remember reading an article on the bbc earlier this year about just how tough the job market is for over 50s and many want to retrain as many of their careers are becoming obsolete or moving on but just don’t have the options to.

 

I think in the uk we’re really bad at seeing education only as a young person’s thing, especially with vocational education. A person in their 50s, may, if they got the grades in maths and science 35 years previously be able to get into higher education to do a STEM or social sciences degree but it’s extremely difficult for them to go back and get education to become, say, a plumber, mechanic or electrician. And it’s extremely difficult to go back to a-levels or get the pre-university qualification grades after your early 20s. Not least because of both the cost (most over a certain age have to pay to do the university qualification courses) of and the cultural stigma 

 

Open university is good because of its lack of entry requirements and the fact it’s online so you can do it round your job, I’ve taken a few OU courses over the years, but it’s still too expensive for a lot of people and still only really offers stuff you can learn online, not practical, hands on subjects

 

Otherwise I think the stereotypical life course of school -> university -> career for life -> retirement is extremely outdated in today’s economy where technology moves on so quickly and many jobs or careers completely change or even become obsolete  over a decade 

Edited 21 June 2023 by Sampson

[Foxdiamond]

3 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Disagree. May be wrong but I’m sure I’ve seen before that research shows that on average graduates pay more back in tax compared to non-graduates than they take from their loan and graduates on average are a net gain to the state. 

 

I would say trying to open up education and allowing people to go back to higher education when they are much older would be a better solution to the problem.
 

I remember reading an article on the bbc earlier this year about just how tough the job market is for over 50s and many want to retrain as many of their careers are becoming obsolete or moving on but just don’t have the options to.

 

I think in the uk we’re really bad at seeing education only as a young person’s thing, especially with vocational education. A person in their 50s, may, if they got the grades in maths and science 35 years previously be able to get into higher education to do a STEM or social sciences degree but it’s extremely difficult for them to go back and get education to become, say, a plumber, mechanic or electrician.

 

Open university is good because of its lack of entry requirements and the fact it’s online so you can do it round your job, I’ve taken a few OU courses over the years, but it’s still too expensive for a lot of people and still only really offers stuff you can learn online, not practical, hands on subjects

 

Otherwise I think the stereotypical life course of school -> university -> career for life -> retirement is extremely outdated in today’s economy where technology moves on so quickly and many jobs or careers completely change or even become obsolete  over a decade 

I was just keen to reiterate that someone retired at 66 has often worked 50 years full time. There is sometimes a tendency to use boomer as a derogatory term and that all are in clover.